the ship's stores independent of us ; that his Honor, likewise without us, appointed and commissioned, as Lieutenant of a company of soldiers consisting of 23 men, an Englishman named Brian Nuton, who does not understand the Dutch language, and pronounces judgment, with his Honor, on political and all other matters. Item, he retains, as councillor, a Frenchman named La Montague, on like footing, who is indebted to the Company fully ten thousand guilders and now, again, adjoins as Councillor and Commissary one Carel Verbruggen, also ;

an Englishman, all without our knowledge and against our will ; against all which have we and the entire Commonalty protested, not being subject, as freemen, to any Military council the Director hath sold the Company's guns and cannon, with all sorts of munitions of war, to the English at Boston he retains our salary, and does not pay our just share in the captured ;

prizes and confiscations, and thus the country is exposed, by such rule and government, to the imminent danger of going to ruin, and ere long to fall into foreign hands wherefore, we are ;

under the necessity of ignoring all those occurrences and the mischiefs which are impending over the country, and expressly to protest before their High Mightinesses, his Highness, the Hon*"'' West India Company and the entire world, holding ourselves pure, clear and innocent consenting that record hereof be made by me. Notary, and delivered in due form, in order to be used as shall be deemed advisable to witness the truth hereof. Signed in New Amsterdam, Manhatans, New Netherland. Dated ut supra. (Signed) H. van Dyck, fiscal, L. van Dincklage, and in presence of me, D. v. Schelluyne, Not. Publ. Underneath was: Agrees with the Original remaining with me. D. v. Schelluyne, Not. Publ. 1650.